Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Here you can chat about everything and anything related to ITFC and other football issues. This forum also hosts the now Internationally famous TB.com ITFC match previews which contain insightful pre-match thoughts, previous highlights, news links relating to Town, form guides and other bits and pieces. Feel free to discuss meet ups/travel plans in here as well.

Moderators: marko69, Bluemike, Charnwood

Post Reply
User avatar
AzzurroMark
Posts: 3027
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:17 pm
Location: Norfolk

Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by AzzurroMark » Fri Jul 15, 2022 10:48 am

Firstly, hope it is ok posting in the ITFC chat section, as I feel this could have an affect on many fans (please move if needed).

I have just seen that the train drivers of Greater Anglia have called a strike on Saturday 30th July! This is timed to cause maximum disruption IMO, what with the football league opening games and the Commonwealth games taking place. I get that people are struggling to make ends meet (and it is also about their working conditions) , but on average train drivers are paid £33k a year, indeed Greater Anglia were recently offering just shy of £52k for Qualified train drivers on an average of 35 hours a week! Many households struggle to earn that much with both incomes taken into consideration, and for a lot more combined hours too! Sorry if I have very little sympathy towards these rail strikes, even less so when it deliberately holds vast numbers to ransom, it seems!

This is bound to put a lot of extra traffic on the road and while I usually drive to evening games, I am seriously questioning whether I fancy it now, what with anticipating a large crowd, a sizeable amount of those from outside of Ipswich usually arriving by train. For me personally the day is about the socialising aspect, going to the pub, having a meal and a few beers before the game! OK I can still do that and stay on soft drinks, but knowing how bad it can be getting away from PR by road i will have to weigh up the options!

Just wonder how many others on here tend to travel in by train? Am just hoping the strike is called off before the 18th (when I was intending to purchase tickets)!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62166276

User avatar
marko69
Global Moderator
Posts: 24186
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:16 am
Location: Somewhere between here and there.

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by marko69 » Fri Jul 15, 2022 11:32 am

I'm with the train drivers. The Govt are forcing people onto the trains due to TWO QUID a feckin litre (and rising) fuel costs. Along with more people on trains, there are LESS staff (much less staff) . Quite right the train union taking no sh*t. And yes, do it to make mass disruption......., unfortunate and very inconvenient for you and I, but its their livelihood. The arse is going to fall out of the housing market next year plus the previously mentioned fuel issue, food prices etc....., £33K will be fk all soon.

User avatar
Bluemike
Global Moderator
Posts: 29564
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 5:26 pm
Location: Ipswich

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Bluemike » Fri Jul 15, 2022 11:37 am

You wouldn't mind them striking if they ran a decent f**king service, used trains a lot recently and its horrendous.

User avatar
rossi
Posts: 2889
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2003 3:18 pm
Location: Broomfield

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by rossi » Fri Jul 15, 2022 11:58 am

I'm with the train drivers too.

Doesn't matter what you earn - £30k or £300k - whatever it is you get used to living according to that income. If inflation starts to erode that, then you're entitled to seek higher wages. The problem isnt with train drivers or anybody else that decides to take strike action for the same reason - it's up to the government to sort out.

User avatar
marko69
Global Moderator
Posts: 24186
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:16 am
Location: Somewhere between here and there.

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by marko69 » Fri Jul 15, 2022 1:01 pm

^^ Absolutely spot on. 100% ^^

Basically...... at 2 quid a litre for fuel...... and no trains...... and no doubt a reduced bus service........, its either walk or hitch-hike to Portman Road to see the 6K a week-ers!

User avatar
Bluemike
Global Moderator
Posts: 29564
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 5:26 pm
Location: Ipswich

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Bluemike » Fri Jul 15, 2022 1:44 pm

To be honest, it makes me sick, I don't agree with strikes in any sector, all it does is affect the average Joe Bloggs in the street, what next surgeons so our loved ones miss crucial life saving operations, dustman so the Rats are running rife in the streets, the list is endless, we could all bloody strike and it would be carnage, the next time airport workers go on strike I wonder how many bloody train drivers will be up in arms about their holiday being affected, world is full of hypocrites

Blue Wilf
Posts: 980
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 4:19 pm

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Blue Wilf » Fri Jul 15, 2022 1:52 pm

For me, the train drivers need to move with the times. People are not using trains as much these days as many have decided to work from home and save the money. That means that eventually, we will need less train drivers and staff. Its sad but its economics. Also, who is going to pay for the extra money they want...? Hmmmm - I wonder...

Cue the abuse.... 😂

User avatar
marko69
Global Moderator
Posts: 24186
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:16 am
Location: Somewhere between here and there.

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by marko69 » Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:05 pm

Blue Wilf wrote:
Fri Jul 15, 2022 1:52 pm
For me, the train drivers need to move with the times. People are not using trains as much these days as many have decided to work from home and save the money. That means that eventually, we will need less train drivers and staff. Its sad but its economics. Also, who is going to pay for the extra money they want...? Hmmmm - I wonder...

Cue the abuse.... 😂
The Govt can use the VAAAAAAAAAAAAAST excesses of profit the greedy bastards are making from the fuel. Its a f**king wind up. They're not fixing the roads with it, so pay the public sector people sufficiently to let this country run as it should........ and stop sending OUR money in the form of ammo to the f**king Ukranians.

User avatar
marko69
Global Moderator
Posts: 24186
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:16 am
Location: Somewhere between here and there.

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by marko69 » Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:13 pm

And apologies to AzzurroMark for this possibly turning political..... (it was political anyway) ......, I realise you just wanted to know how you were going to get to the game, ---->>> Train; have a beer......., or car; have some coke (the drink...., or maybe the other one depending on KMcK's tactics).....,
but when you delve deep, and realise that financial sh*t happens due to Govt's antics, then a point blank refusal to increase pay to meet cost of living standards ......., :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: ....., that's what is hypocritical.

Blue Wilf
Posts: 980
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 4:19 pm

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Blue Wilf » Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:20 pm

Clearly there are differing opinions and as soon as it gets political, it gets out of control so I am gonna stop here as I know we will disagree on almost everything that is not football related. So lets just agree 'Uppa Towen' 👍

User avatar
AzzurroMark
Posts: 3027
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:17 pm
Location: Norfolk

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by AzzurroMark » Fri Jul 15, 2022 10:37 pm

marko69 wrote:
Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:13 pm
And apologies to AzzurroMark for this possibly turning political..... (it was political anyway) ......, I realise you just wanted to know how you were going to get to the game, ---->>> Train; have a beer......., or car; have some coke (the drink...., or maybe the other one depending on KMcK's tactics).....,
but when you delve deep, and realise that financial sh*t happens due to Govt's antics, then a point blank refusal to increase pay to meet cost of living standards ......., :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: ....., that's what is hypocritical.
Not a problem. My OP was political in many ways, not that I really intended it to be. I prefer to look at that there have been a lot of things going on in the world which have helped make this situation what it is! I don't know the ins and outs of financial stuff and nor am i going to pretend I do. I get the points in favour of the rail workers (let's not forget it isn't just about the drivers and guards, nor is it just about wages), especially when footballers, for one, earn obscene amounts! I just don't like the fact they are inconveniencing me! :P :wink: :lol:

Andym
Posts: 5355
Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Mid Suffolk

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Andym » Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:38 am

The railways haven’t worked well since privatisation. Thatcher split it up into so many small parts to sell it off that it could never work properly. A franchise system doesn’t encourage proper investment as you might lose the franchise after you spent the money. Every year, prices rise above inflation to make as profit for the owners; that’s the main reason why passenger numbers have dropped.
I won’t comment on whether the strike is justified, but every worker had the right to withdraw their Labour. And if you want to strike, you’ll want to go for maximum disruption.

User avatar
Charnwood
Global Moderator
Posts: 18860
Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:25 pm
Location: Moraira, Spain.

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Charnwood » Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:45 am

One thing for sure inflation won’t get fixed unless the government controls both wages and spending. If wages aren’t controlled we then have wage inflation which will simply exacerbate price inflation and the general inflation graph gets steeper. This is a difficult one for the government because in many ways they’ve contributed to inflation by getting Brexit Done and by Richi Sunak authorising the Bank of England to print excessive amounts of cash through its quantitive easing programme. The only way inflation will come back down will be through higher interest rates, higher taxes, controlled spending and capped wages and it won’t happen without pain.
Fuel & energy inflation can be fixed by the Government by tinkering with fuel taxes and vat or by applying a subsidy at the pump as the Government has done here in Spain, and this costs the Government nothing. The UK could also take a leaf out of the Spanish Government’s recently announced Emergency Tax Measures on energy companies and banks by applying a temporary exceptional tax on national and multinational electricity, gas and oil companies, heavily taxing (50%) the extraordinary profits they are all currently making. All this as part of a “battery of measures” designed to protect the working and middle classes from high inflation for the next two years. Eg; From 1 Sept short and medium term rail travel will be subsided 100% Inc multi journey tickets and all public transport subsidised by 30-60% to ensure everybody can afford to travel to work or to study. Banks are also being charged a levy on their excess profits, all this to make sure the people of the country share in equal measures the costs and profits arising from the current economic crisis.
Of course the Spanish Government aren’t everybody’s favourite but at least they are doing something positive to help ease some of the pain caused by high inflation.
On topic footie fans here should be able to get to every game without worrying about the travel costs.

Andym
Posts: 5355
Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Mid Suffolk

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Andym » Mon Jul 18, 2022 11:47 am

Charnwood wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:45 am
One thing for sure inflation won’t get fixed unless the government controls both wages and spending. If wages aren’t controlled we then have wage inflation which will simply exacerbate price inflation and the general inflation graph gets steeper. This is a difficult one for the government because in many ways they’ve contributed to inflation by getting Brexit Done and by Richi Sunak authorising the Bank of England to print excessive amounts of cash through its quantitive easing programme. The only way inflation will come back down will be through higher interest rates, higher taxes, controlled spending and capped wages and it won’t happen without pain.
Fuel & energy inflation can be fixed by the Government by tinkering with fuel taxes and vat or by applying a subsidy at the pump as the Government has done here in Spain, and this costs the Government nothing. The UK could also take a leaf out of the Spanish Government’s recently announced Emergency Tax Measures on energy companies and banks by applying a temporary exceptional tax on national and multinational electricity, gas and oil companies, heavily taxing (50%) the extraordinary profits they are all currently making. All this as part of a “battery of measures” designed to protect the working and middle classes from high inflation for the next two years. Eg; From 1 Sept short and medium term rail travel will be subsided 100% Inc multi journey tickets and all public transport subsidised by 30-60% to ensure everybody can afford to travel to work or to study. Banks are also being charged a levy on their excess profits, all this to make sure the people of the country share in equal measures the costs and profits arising from the current economic crisis.
Of course the Spanish Government aren’t everybody’s favourite but at least they are doing something positive to help ease some of the pain caused by high inflation.
On topic footie fans here should be able to get to every game without worrying about the travel costs.
I agree with pretty much all of that. The problem is that the only wages that the Government can control are public sector wages (the railway workers are pretty well public sector the way the system works). And the public sector have endured 10 years of cuts and zero pay rises due to austerity. It’ll be difficult to prevent strikes. But you are right, pay rises are of course inflationary. There are times when we all have to accept as lower standard of living to get it under control. Unfortunately we live in a country (if not a world) where the inequality gap is rising all the time, so those at the bottom are really struggling. Giving them a 15% pay rise doesn’t help much as 15% of bugger all is bugger all. So we do indeed need to look at the other measures you suggest. And tackle inequality in wages. Bloody hell, it’s not often we agree is it! (except on who is the worst prime minister of all time),
A final comment: I spent much of my working life as a teacher before switching to writing textbooks at the age of 56, and most of my teaching career as a trade Union official in one form or other. Next time the Daily Mail rants on about militant union leaders, don’t believe it. A Union can only take strike action if the majority vote in favour with a turnout of over 50%. When a group of workers succeeds in meeting that requirement, it has nothing to do with militant leaders, it’s a very upset, angry and unhappy work force.

User avatar
Charnwood
Global Moderator
Posts: 18860
Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:25 pm
Location: Moraira, Spain.

Re: Travel chaos on the first day of the new season?

Post by Charnwood » Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:15 am

Andym wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 11:47 am
Charnwood wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:45 am
One thing for sure inflation won’t get fixed unless the government controls both wages and spending. If wages aren’t controlled we then have wage inflation which will simply exacerbate price inflation and the general inflation graph gets steeper. This is a difficult one for the government because in many ways they’ve contributed to inflation by getting Brexit Done and by Richi Sunak authorising the Bank of England to print excessive amounts of cash through its quantitive easing programme. The only way inflation will come back down will be through higher interest rates, higher taxes, controlled spending and capped wages and it won’t happen without pain.
Fuel & energy inflation can be fixed by the Government by tinkering with fuel taxes and vat or by applying a subsidy at the pump as the Government has done here in Spain, and this costs the Government nothing. The UK could also take a leaf out of the Spanish Government’s recently announced Emergency Tax Measures on energy companies and banks by applying a temporary exceptional tax on national and multinational electricity, gas and oil companies, heavily taxing (50%) the extraordinary profits they are all currently making. All this as part of a “battery of measures” designed to protect the working and middle classes from high inflation for the next two years. Eg; From 1 Sept short and medium term rail travel will be subsided 100% Inc multi journey tickets and all public transport subsidised by 30-60% to ensure everybody can afford to travel to work or to study. Banks are also being charged a levy on their excess profits, all this to make sure the people of the country share in equal measures the costs and profits arising from the current economic crisis.
Of course the Spanish Government aren’t everybody’s favourite but at least they are doing something positive to help ease some of the pain caused by high inflation.
On topic footie fans here should be able to get to every game without worrying about the travel costs.
I agree with pretty much all of that. The problem is that the only wages that the Government can control are public sector wages (the railway workers are pretty well public sector the way the system works). And the public sector have endured 10 years of cuts and zero pay rises due to austerity. It’ll be difficult to prevent strikes. But you are right, pay rises are of course inflationary. There are times when we all have to accept as lower standard of living to get it under control. Unfortunately we live in a country (if not a world) where the inequality gap is rising all the time, so those at the bottom are really struggling. Giving them a 15% pay rise doesn’t help much as 15% of bugger all is bugger all. So we do indeed need to look at the other measures you suggest. And tackle inequality in wages. Bloody hell, it’s not often we agree is it! (except on who is the worst prime minister of all time),
A final comment: I spent much of my working life as a teacher before switching to writing textbooks at the age of 56, and most of my teaching career as a trade Union official in one form or other. Next time the Daily Mail rants on about militant union leaders, don’t believe it. A Union can only take strike action if the majority vote in favour with a turnout of over 50%. When a group of workers succeeds in meeting that requirement, it has nothing to do with militant leaders, it’s a very upset, angry and unhappy work force.
Hey Andy we do have some common ground as I was also a Union representative in the banking sector for many years ending up as Vice Chairman of the Union. I agree that pay inequality is a major issue but there will always be low paid jobs and there will always be high paid jobs some exceptionally high due to results and reward schemes that are sometimes necessary but always self funded. It is however the Government’s job to ensure that low paid workers pay zero tax and exceptionally high paid workers get taxed accordingly. Sadly many of the problems facing the world today stem from social inequality which is out of control and worsening year on year. I have no idea how it will ever be resolved.

Post Reply